Annual record fair set for Saturday at Handlebar

Dec. 5, 2013

Gene Berger opened Horizon Records in 1975. / KEN OSBURN / Staff

Written by

Wes Gilliam

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The event will be held at The Handlebar on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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On Saturday, the sixth annual Horizon Records record fair will take place at The Handlebar on Stone Avenue. Horizon Records owner Gene Berger began the annual Greenville record fair in 2007.

As the past several years have seen the decline in sales of physical media, most notably the CD, vinyl sales have steadily risen with a 17.7 percent sales increase from 2011 to 2012. While the number is still much smaller than the number of digital downloads sold (1.3 billion digital downloads vs 4.6 million LPs), it is still an encouraging sign for those who desire physical media for their listening experience.

Berger describes the event as a type of homecoming with regular vendors just as eager to check out friends’ booths.

“The culture of the obscure and the undiscovered, and the hidden treasure is what’s driving it all. It overlays and spreads across all genres and age groups,” says Berger. “If you’re interested in music, especially music in the vinyl format, this is for you. Plus it’s just a spectacle. Berger also likens the event to a vintage car show in some regards. “Just because one doesn’t own a muscle car or collectible ’50s or ’60s car doesn’t mean one can’t enjoy going to a car show,” he muses.

Those who may be attending for the first time shouldn’t feel intimidated. Berger says that “you can find $1 or $2 stuff.”

And there are those on the hunt for the more rare.

“I’m sure there’ll be people paying $50 for the punk singles in there,” he said.